![Doha, Qatar in One Day Qatari kids playing some sort of chess game with pieces that look like puddings to me](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5573/14841356812_7aab897809_o.jpg)
If you are flying long-haul out of Singapore, why not consider flying via Qatar Airways?
Qatar Airways is the national airline of the State of Qatar and is currently one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. No surprise here because the state itself is developing rapidly, despite having a population of just 2.1 million. Qatar currently has the world’s third largest natural gas reserves and oil reserves in excess of 25 billion barrels, which have fueled Qatar to become the world’s richest country per capita and achieve the highest human development in the Arab World and 36th highest globally.
Think Singapore and Singapore Airlines on steroid if we have natural resources. That’s Qatar and Qatar Airways.
Long-haul flights via Qatar Airways are competitively priced and entails a transfer at Doha, the capital city of Doha. You can take the opportunity to do a stopover for a day or two to tour the city. Note that visa is required for Singaporeans.
Doha is a modern and rapidly developing city, much like Singapore. It looks set to become one of the premier cities in the Gulf within a few years. On my last trip to Barcelona with Qatar Airways, we had a stopover in Doha on the way back and spent one night in the capital.
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Constructions everywhere](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5579/14818701386_96766c0748_o.jpg)
Within a day, we covered three attractions – 4WD desert sand dune adventure, explore Souq Waqif, the renovated Arabic market quarter and enjoyed seafood along Al-Corniche, a long seaside promenade that curves around Doha Bay.
We stayed at the 5-star Mövenpick Hotel Doha:
![Doha, Qatar in One Day My bedroom in Movenpick Doha](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3873/14654993829_732f6090ee_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Living room area](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3922/14655011548_7bab72ffec_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Kitchen amenities](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/14841629085_fd61b59bdc_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Bathroom](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5590/14655081017_a0e15cc358_o.jpg)
After a hearty international breakfast at the hotel, we headed off to Qatar Airways HQ and a tour of Hamad International Airport. This was followed by lunch and a trip to the Qatari desert on a 4WD vehicle with an experienced local driver cum guide.
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Breakfast at Movenpick](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3867/14839314114_404557f55b_o.jpg)
I have been to deserts in India, Australia, Israel and other countries. They pretty much look the same everywhere, but just as astonishing and scary as to the power of nature.
This was the first time I am touring a desert on a 4WD vehicle. the ride was smoother than I anticipated. The thrill is when the driver speed the vehicle up or down steep sand dunes or even just drag it horizontally across the slope. You would think the car is going to topple over together with you and the other passengers, but somehow, the wheels are glued to the inclined sand.
There are many desert safari tour operators in Doha. You can book one online or book one after you have arrived in Doha. It is definitely something worth trying, especially if you have not visited a desert before.
Some pictures to share on the 4WD adventure ride:
![Doha, Qatar in One Day The 4WD vehicle we sat in](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3865/14841660675_38c186e480_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Inside the vehicle](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3919/14818701686_f97fd94a0a_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Tracks left behind by our vehicle](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3858/14861530073_3556fef63b_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Tour camels in the desert](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5593/14655118137_1839a63399_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Muzzled camel](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3849/14861531533_e3ccecfa6a_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Camels being led away](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5553/14839310064_fc8e9c3d78_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day A boy running up a sand dune slope](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3919/14839303674_cb86fc419d_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Sheryl from our group tried running up the slope too](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5589/14655111087_63e929cafd_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Me seated at the top of a steep sand dune slope](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5578/14839302374_63edf8f04e_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Top-down view of the slope](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5570/14861524513_d0579c480b_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Happiness! In the Qatari dessert.](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5565/14655024699_a8013056bd_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Break area for food and washrooms](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5594/14841305612_d6742a6e4d_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Inside the tents](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5552/14654958870_b6aff6c012_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Our driver checking his car tyres for our safety](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/14654968820_79d204e140_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day We stopped for some tea and snacks](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5582/14655039198_cb170748cf_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Elderly tourist couple strolling to check out the desert water](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5590/14655040428_e759d800e9_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Water](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3883/14861529353_cc26eb17b2_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Love the view](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3893/14655045928_b311b8ac11_o.jpg)
After the desert tour, we headed to Souq Waqif to do some shopping and soak into the local atmosphere. The place is newly renovated and very orderly. It is more or less organised by what is being sold. One can easily wander around the maze-like corridors for hours and get lost. The best way for me to describe it is that it is likened to a smaller Arabic version of the Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, Thailand.
There are sections selling spices, textiles and even exotic pets:
![Doha, Qatar in One Day From the outside](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5561/14655118478_9f8882d7c8_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day The restaurant and cafe strip](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5578/14838654171_77d41cae93_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day A cafe](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3915/14655098779_f0153ca1c0_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Nice, clean and safe](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/14841734915_fa70478de1_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Another cafe](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5572/14841384182_b6ee90be21_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Wooden boat outside a carpentry shop](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5579/14861600733_48407dd1b5_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Lamps and stuff](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5585/14841733265_d06d490996_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day More souvenir shops](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3921/14655095989_9213ee703d_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Qatari themed fridge magnets](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3921/14838648251_545f31c212_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Local Qatari-shaped salt and pepper shakers on top of various ornamental boxes](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3893/14655111168_f35bdf2804_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Vases, jugs](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3916/14655110718_b7b2c75123_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Ice cream vendors](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5551/14838646241_497e966367_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Spotted Dora the Explorer](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3902/14861593333_f6f395dd17_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Locals shop here too](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5576/14839375314_1b00533620_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Chill out at the cafe](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3878/14838648501_6624cc984f_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day The area is quite large](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3843/14655028300_a28bca6b94_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day The people here mostly appear quite relaxed](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5584/14841356152_8239218182_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Crafts shop](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5570/14818740146_6f76708547_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Perfume](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5565/14818739866_5bd998d86c_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Pets section](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3884/14861576413_df4fa768f0_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Parrots](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3900/14839353974_3ea1ca04a8_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Colourful birds](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3892/14655072459_4585801d9e_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Iguanas](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5578/14818743756_a374bc25c1_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Birds shop](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5589/14655074949_f1a138f490_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day For the ladies](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3906/14841714345_3683b96ac2_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Jewelry](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/14838633391_7f73f4d74d_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Hair accessories](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3863/14838632451_b51ea59345_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Perfumes and cosmetics](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3840/14818745966_9d417669f9_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Fortune tellers](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5587/14861581453_54a43a145a_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Household items section](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3855/14655095938_5bb452582f_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Hardware store](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3918/14818754916_78b981344c_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Toy store](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/14818754336_e555d2492b_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Textile section](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3917/14818757626_712c6cf726_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day This section is really colourful](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3904/14818757946_2c2b2b364d_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Women's wear](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3918/14655175767_b14c17db6e_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Actually, the Qatari women all dress this way](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5555/14841720855_fb8b1a1270_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Tidbits and sweets shop](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3893/14818747056_7f9c3813b5_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Assorted nuts](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3854/14655165207_0dc65ff4ce_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Street food vendors](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3904/14838634221_fc80ef6d76_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Cakes and pastries](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5565/14655018940_61607a78c6_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Pancakes](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3880/14655103278_d398b41dee_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Kids' balloons](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3839/14838637501_fab45c123b_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Toys](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14818751116_9fd261f185_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Cosmetics and other women's stuff](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3913/14655101208_f88f2798b3_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Qatari kids playing chess](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3864/14861575173_1cca265f8c_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Love their smiles](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5593/14655158947_6e5f770d15_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Happy shopping](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5592/14841377442_277615c032_o.jpg)
If you get tired of shopping, you can find a nice little cafe, order some masala tea and smoke a Sheesha (water-pipe):
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Sheryl enjoying a water pipe](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3863/14655088328_0f520e7a46_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Cup of coffee](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3837/14818738416_67e326280c_o.jpg)
The last attraction on our itinerary was dinner at Al-Corniche, a long seaside promenade that curves around Doha Bay and affords pretty views of the city’s skyscrapers.
We had seafood at L’wzaar restaurant, an award-winning, popular large seafood specialty restaurant in Doha. Other than tourists and expats, many locals frequent the restaurant as well. It was pretty good:
![Doha, Qatar in One Day L'wzaar restaurant](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5552/14655154507_1f63edaab2_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day First you pick the seafood you want](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/14861569313_8f96d456bc_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Next, place your order and how you want it cooked](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3879/14839346214_4f6122d58c_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Large open kitchen](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3907/14838619251_c1e926b967_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Dining area](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5564/14839343834_3eaf9ee004_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Crab](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3870/14655062839_2391566e36_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Fish baked with almond flakes](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3897/14655063079_3c66cd54f1_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Mussels](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3871/14838618551_06790d9991_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Hummus](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5593/14841349962_5ea149ec5b_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Grilled prawn](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3875/14655002150_5fe11abaed_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Restaurant is really huge, sprawling from one end to another](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3880/14839346934_4e3f0faa31_o.jpg)
After a good meal, we took a short stroll along the promenade before heading back to our hotel and bidding farewell to the charming little city of Doha:
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Doha Bay](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3906/14861570593_b68dd1faa6_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day Strolling along the promenade](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/14841347312_466a245ee7_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day A drink stall by the bay](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3893/14861565703_e4123024dc_o.jpg)
![Doha, Qatar in One Day A last glimpse of Doha by night](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5578/14839343454_8d6c2e9ccc_o.jpg)